It amazing isn't it how phrases you use every day go completely out of your head as soon as you try and write them down.

Plonker was always kiss in Kent when I were a lad. And "Die yer bastard" is in common use when someone sneezes. Get yer knickers in a twist = become agitated. Who pulled your chain = who asked your opinion. knuckle sandwich = bunch of fives = smack in the gob = require the attention of a dentist as a result of an altercation. Glasgie farewell = the action of applying ones forehead forcefully to anothers nose. Birmingham/Irish screwdriver = hammer

In Devon "where's ee to?" = where is he/she

NZ Push shit uphill with a pointed stick = thankless task Popular as a pork chop at Jewish wedding = self explanatory As much use as a spare prick at a wedding = self explanatory, Went down like a lead pengiun = rather unsuccessful attempt at humour. Maori PT = have a kip = sleep/rest horizontally

Talking of brown hatters and arsehole bandits, I believe the use of the term "gay" for a queer goes back to the nineteenth century.

If we get into military slang then there is a whole new range which seems to be largely service specific, US/NZ/UK matelots understand each others slang far better than they do that of pongos from their own country.

Two that are also in common civilian usage in the UK are: Can't hack it = unable to stand the pace Loose your bottle = It is the ultimate insult in the services, but is actually quite hard to define. Its a sort of combination of showing excessive fear, not performing adequately because of fear and letting your mates down, but not precisely any of these.

Keep it up

Pete M